Fish butchering apparatus

ABSTRACT

Fish butchering apparatus for separating a fish into a main loin section and a lower head and belly section. The apparatus includes a power-operated vertically movable knife which is urged towards and away from a horizontal table upon which a fish is positioned. Means on the table cooperate to position a fish so that the knife will cut downwardly through such fish along a line extending approximately from the center of the eye to the vent regardless of the size of the fish.

United States Patent Vidjak [451 July 11, 1972 [54] FISH BUTCHERINGAPPARATUS [72] Inventor: Frank V. Vldjalt, Long Beach. Calif.

[73] Assignee: Slur-Kb Funk, Inc., Terminal island,

Calif.

22 Filed: Nov. 2?, i970 2| Appl.No.: 93,066

[52] [1.8. CI 4.17/6! [5|] Int. Cl. t t t A22: 25/14 [58] Fieldolsearch.ll7/60,$9,6l,63,S7,52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,423,l 74 7/1947 Brown 17/63 2,479,010 8/1949 Jones ..l7/57 3,082,094 3/l963 Kramer .t I 7/60 XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 655,580 12/1928 France 17/61 PrimaryExaminer-Lucie H. Laudenslager Attorney-Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee &Utecht 1 ABS'IRACT Fish butchering apparatus for separating a fish intoa main loin section and a lower head and belly sectionv The apparatusincludes a power-operated vertically movable knife which is urgedtowards and away from a horizontal table upon which a fish ispositioned. Means on the table cooperate to position a fish so that theknife will cut downwardly through such fish along a line extendingapproximately from the center of the eye to the vent regardless of thesize of the fish.

IOCIaInnJDraWlngI-Tgures PATENIEDJUL 1 m2 SHEET 2 0F 3 *vag INVENTOR.Femvx V. V/DJAK flflvexvens' III/III FISH BUTCHERING APPARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been heretofor proposed toeviscertate tuna and similar fish by making a cut along a line passingapproximately through the vent and just below the roof of the stomach ofthe fish. This method of butchering fish is shown in U. S. Pat. No.3,082,094 issued to Jack Kramer, Mar. 19, I963.

Butchering of fish in this manner permits the loin portion to be shippedto the cannery while the lower head and belly section may be consumedadjacent the fishery. Considerable difficulty has been experienced inpracticing this method of fish butchering by power-operated meanshowever, since tuna are of various sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The fish butchering apparatus of the presentinvention includes a power-operated knife which cuts through a fishalong a line extending approximately from the center of the eye to thevent of the fish. The apparatus also includes a fixed bellyengagingguide, a transversely movable back-engaging plate and a longitudinallymovable nose-engaging plate. The plates are operatively interconnectedby linkage means which automatically cause the nose-engaging plate tomove a predetermined longitudinal distance when the back-engaging plateis moved a transverse distance corresponding to the width of the fish.With this arrangement, the guide and plates automatically position anysize of fish so that the knife will cut the fish along a line extendingapproximately from the center of the eye to the vent regardless of thesize of the fish.

description OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferredform of fish butchering apparatus embodying the present invention;DESCRIPTION FIG. 2 is a broken top plan view of said apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a nose-engaging plate ofsaid apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a top view of said apparatus, with some parts being deleted inthe interest of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken in enlarged scale along line55 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views taken along line 6-6 of FIG.2 showing the operation of said apparatus; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the arrangement for ower-actuatingsaid apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, apreferred form of fish butchering apparatus embodying the presentinvention includes a frame F having a horizontal table 10. A verticallymovable knife K is carried by the frame F. Power-operated means P areinterposed between the frame F and the knife K to urge the knifedownwardly toward the table so as to butcher a fish T disposed upon theupper surface of the table and thereafter raise the knife. A fixedbelly-engaging guide, generally designated 16, is mounted on the table10. Also, mounted on the table are a transversely movable back-engagingplate 18 and a longitudinally movable nose-engaging plate 20. Linkagemeans L operatively connects the plates I8 and 20 to cause thenose-engaging plate 20 to move a predetermined longitudinal distancerelative to the longitudinal axis of the fish when the back-engagingplate 18 is moved a transverse distance corresponding to the width ofthe fish T. The guide 16, plates 18 and 20 and linkage means L cooperateto automatically position a fish so that knife K will cut downwardlythrough the fish along a line extending approximately from the center ofthe eye through the vent regardless of the size of the fish.

More particularly, the frame F includes legs 30 and upper andintermediate cross-pieces 32 and 34, respectively. The

table is rigidly supported at the upper end of the legs 30. As"

indicated particularly in FIGS. 6 and 7, the table is formed with ahead-receiving aperture 40 and a body-receiving opening 42. The knife Kincludes an elongated blade 44 which is carried by an arm 46. The arm 46is attached to a crank 48 which as indicated in FIG. 8 is pivotallyconnected to the frame F by a pivot pin 50. The opposite end of arm 46is pivotally connected to the free end of a rod 52 that extends from anair cylinder 54 carried by frame F, such cylinder and piston comprisingthe power-operated means P. Reciprocation of the rod 52 relative to thecylinder 54 will effect vertical movement of the knife K towards andaway from the upper surface of table 10.

The belly-engaging guide 16 includes a curved elongated pusher element58 which is disposed just above the upper surface of table 10 on theside of knife K opposite the back-engaging plate 18. Pusher element 58is affixed to the free end of a support bar 59 having its opposite endpivotally secured to the table 10 by a pivot post 60. The pusher element58 is constantly though gently urged towards a fish being butchered by acompression spring assembly 61 affixed to table 10.

The back-engaging plate 18 is rigidly affixed at its intermediateportion to a transversely extending support bar 62. The free end of bar62 is pivotally connected to one end of a pivot rod 64, while theintermediate portion of bar 62 is pivotally connected to one end of asecond pivot rod 66, such rods 64 and 66 being substantially parallel.The ends of the rods 64 and 66 opposite bar 62 are pivotally secured tothe table 10. A tension spring 67 biases rod 64 towards a fish beingbutchered, such spring being secured to a slider block 68 upon whichbars 64 and 66 ride.

The nose-engaging plate 20 is preferably configured to conform to thegeneral profile of the nose of a fish to be butchered. As shown in FIG.3, the nose-engaging plate 20 is adjustable transversely along agenerally C-shaped guide 21 secured to the free end of a rod 70 by meansof an adjustment screw 71, the guide 21 slidably receiving a plate 20aformed on nose plate 20. Adjustment screw 71 extends through a threadedbore formed in the guide 21 to engage the plate 200 of nose plate 20.Support bar 70 extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis ofa fish to be butchered towards the same side of the table 10 at whichthe belly-engaging plate 18 is positioned. The front end of bar 70 ispivotally connected to one end of a rod 72, while the inten'nediateportion of bar 7 0 is pivotally connected to one end of a second rod 74.The rods 72 and 74 are substantially parallel and the ends of such rodsopposite bar 70 are pivotally connected to the table 10. A slider cage76 is pivotally connected at one end to the intermediate portion of therod 74. An adjustment screw 78 is interposed between the intermediateportion of slider cage 76 and the outer portion of rod 74. A tensionspring 80 extends between the inner portion of rod 72 and the table I0to bias nose-engaging plate 20 rearwardly towards the nose of fish T. Atwo-piece leg 82 interconnects the slider cage 76 and the inner portionof support bar 62, the length of such leg 82 being adjustable by meansof a bolt and slot connection 84. The free end of leg 82 is providedwith a depending slider post 86 which is slidably movably along theconfines of the slider cage 76.

The afore-described linkage between the belly-engaging plate 18 and thenose-engaging plate 20 so interconnects these plates as to cause thenose-engaging plate 20 to be moved a predetermined longitudinal distancerelative to a fish being butchered when the back-engaging plate 18 ismoved a transverse distance corresponding to the width of the fish beingbutchered. The position of belly-engaging guide 16 remains substantiallyfixed. It has been determined that most tuna and tuna-like fish are soproportioned that a transverse movement of the back-engaging plate 18 toa longitudinal movement of the nose-engaging plate 20 in the ratio ofapproximately 1 to ll: will automatically position or index a fish to bebutchered so that the knife K will cut downwardly through the fish alonga line extending approximately from the center of the eye to the vent ofthe fish regardless of the size of such fish.

Thus, referring to FIG. 2, a comparatively large fish T is shown insolid outline disposed within the confines of a space defined by pusherelement 59 of the belly-engaging guide 16, back-engaging plate 18 andnose-engaging plate 20, such fish being arranged on its side. When asmaller fish (indicated in phantom outline) is to be butchered, theback-engaging plate 18 will move transversely inwardly under theinfluence of tension spring 67 to its phantom outline position to abutthe back of such smaller fish. This transverse movement of theback-engaging plate 18 will effect a rearward longitudinal movement ofthe nose-engaging plate 20 to its phantom outline position of FIG. 2.The ratio of transverse movement of the back-engaging plate 18 to thelongitudinal movement of the nose-engaging plate 20 will approximate lto 1%, i.e. if plate 18 moves 1 inch, plate 20 will move 1% inches,approximately. During such movement of the back-engaging plate 18 andthe nose engaging plate 20, the position of the belly-engaging guide 16will remain substantially constant since pusher element 59 is yieldingretained in its position of FIG. 2. When the plates 18 and 20 haveundergone the above-described relative movement, they will in their newpositions index or position the smaller size fish so that upon downwardmovement of the knife K the smaller size fish will be cut through a lineextending approximately from the center of the eye to the vent of suchsmaller size fish.

During the cutting operation, the pusher element 58 of thebelly-engaging guide 16 will cooperate with the backengaging plate 18and nose-engaging plate 20 to gently but firmly retain the fish againsttwisting as the knife is moved downwardly through the fish. To aid inobtaining this result, the pusher element may be formed with a pluralityof ribs 58a, as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fins of a fish beingbutchered by compressed between such ribs.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4-7, the body-receiving opening 42of table 10 is normally closed by a horizontally movable gate panel 100which is pivotally secured to the table 10 by a pin 102 free end of therod 102 of an air-operated cylinder 104. The gate 100 underlies table 10with its edges slightly overlapping opening 42. In FIG. 4, gate 100 isshown in its closed position by solid and dotted outline and in its openposition by phantom lines. The belly, back and nose-engaging deviceshave been deleted from this figure in the interest of clarity. Gate 100is moved between its open and closed positions by means of an aircylinder 104 and rod 106 unit of conventional construction. One end ofcylinder I04 is pivotally attached to the underside of table 10 by pin108, while the free end of rod 106 is pivotally attached to theintermediate portion of gate I by pin 110. As shown in FIG. the endofgate 100 opposite pin 102 carries support rollers 112 that ride in atrack 114 secured to the underside of table 100. It should be noted thatthe intermediate portion of gate 100 is formed with an elongated slot116 that is aligned with a finger 118 that depends from the end of bar62 adjacent pusher element 58.

With continued reference to FIGS. 4-7, the head-receiving aperture 40 oftable is provided with a gate panel 120 which, like gate 100, underliesthe table 10 with its edges overlapping the opening 40. One end of panel120 is pivotally attached to the underside of table 10 by a pivot pin122. The opposite end of gate 120 is provided with support rollers 124similar to support rollers 112 which ride in a track 126 secured to theunderside of table 10. Gate 120 is moved between its opened and closedpositions by means of an air cylinder 126 and rod 128 unit ofconventional construction. One end of cylinder 126 is pivotallyconnected to the underside of table 10 by pin 130, while the free end ofrod 128 is pivotally attached to the intermediate portion of gate 120 bypin 132. Gate 120 is shown in its closed position in FIG. 4 by solid anddotted outline and in its open position by phantom lines.

A conveyor belt 140 of conventional construction is positioned belowbody-receiving aperture 42 of the table 10, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Achute 142 extends downwardly from the underside of the table from thehead-receiving aperture 40 formed in the table.

In the operation of the aforedescribed apparatus, a fish T to bebutchered (shown in solid outline in FIG. 2) is positioned upon the topof the table 10 with the parts of such apparatus being disposed as shownin FIGS. 2 and 6. At this time, the back of the fish T abuts theback-engaging plate I8 while the nose of the fish abuts thenose-engaging plate 20. It should be particularly noted that thenose-engaging plate 20 may be adjusted transversely relative to the fishT by means of the aforedescribed adjustment screw 71. This arrangementpermits the cut through the fish made by the knife K to be adjusted formaximum recovery without damaging the loins. The belly cavities of fishvary in accordance with the species of the fish. Accordingly, theability to effect such adjustment is often important.

With the fish T being held securely in its solid outline position ofFIGS. 2 and 6 the power-operated means P is actuated by a conventionalvalve 150 to cause the piston rod 52 to move downwardly within itscylinder 54. Such movement of rod 52 urges the knife K downwardly fromits raised position of FIGS. 1 and 6 to its lowered position of FIG. 7so as to sever the loin portion T-l of the fish from the head and bellysection T2 thereof, as indicated in FIG. 7. With continued reference toFIG. 7, when the knife K reaches its lower position, the rod 106 ofcylinder 104 will be retracted by means of a suitable conventional valve152. Concurrently, the rod 128 will be retracted within its cylinder 126by means of the same valve 152. The retraction of rods 106 and 128effects concurrent pivoting of gates and to their open position of FIG.7. As these gates are opened the fish portions T-] and T-2 willrespectively drop through openings 42 and 40.

With further reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, it should be particularly notedthat as gate 100 is moved to its open position of FIG. 7, the finger 118secured to bar 62 will be engaged by the inner end 154 of opening 116 ofgate 100 so as to positively retract the pusher element 58 fromengagement with the fish T. In this manner, the fish is positivelyreleased from element 58 and is therefore free to drop through openings40 and 42. When piston rod 106 is again extended, element 58 and itsassociated parts will be returned towards belly-engaging guide 16 bymeans of spring 67.

After the first fish has been butchered, another fish to be butcheredmay be positioned upon the table 10 between the belly-engaging guides16, backengaging plate 18 and nose-en gaging plate 20. Should the sizeof the second fish to be butchered vary from the size of the first fish(as for example, be smaller in size as indicated in phantom outline inFIGS. 2 and 6), the guide 16 and plates 18 and 20 will automaticallyposition or index the second fish so that when the knife K is againurged downwardly it will cut through such second fish along a lineextending from approximately the center of the eye to the vent of thefish. It has been determined that a single machine will convenientlyhandle fish ranging in weight from approximately 5 pounds to 25 pounds.Should the weight of the fish butchered be greater, a larger machine canbe con structed to handle fish weighing from approximately 25 pounds to60 pounds.

Various modifications and changes can be made with respect to theforegoing description without departing from the spirit from the presentinvention.

I claim:

1. Butchering apparatus for use with tuna-like fish of vari ous sizes,comprising;

a frame having a horizontal table, the upper surface of said tablereceiving fish to be butchered;

a vertically movable knife carried by said frame;

power-operated means interposed between said frame and said knife tourge said knife downwardly towards said table, to butcher a fishdisposed on its side upon the upper surface of said table and tothereafter raise said knife;

a fixed belly-engaging guide on said table;

a transversely movable back-engaging plate on said table;

a longitudinally movable nose-engaging plate on said table;

and

linkage means operatively interconnecting said plates to cause saidnose-engaging plate to automatically move a predetermined longitudinaldistance when said back-engaging plate is moved a transverse distancecorresponding to the width of a fish to be butchered, whereby said guideand said plates will position different sizes of fish so that said knifewill cut downwardly through said fish along a line extendingapproxiamtely from the center of the eye to the vent of said fish.

2. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkageeffects a transverse movement of said back-engaging plate to alongitudinal movement of said nose-engaging plate in the ratio ofapproximately 1 to 1%.

3. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidbelly-engaging guide includes a pusher element and spring meansconstantly though gently urging said pusher element towards a fish beingbutchered.

4. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said table isformed with a head-receiving aperture and a bodyreceiving opening, andsaid aperture and opening are normally closed by panel means, meansoperatively interposed between said frame and said panel means to movesaid panel means to an open position as said knife reaches its lowerposition.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said nose'engaging plate isadjustable transversely relative to said fish.

6. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidbelly-engaging guide includes a pusher element and spring meansconstantly though gently urging said pusher element towards a fish beingbutchered.

7. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said table isformed with a head-receiving aperture and a bodyreceiving opening, andsaid aperture and opening are normally closed by panel means, meansoperatively interposed between said frame and said panel means to movesaid panel means to an open position as said knife reaches its lowerposition.

8. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidnose-engaging plate is adjustable transversely relative to said fish.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said table is formed with ahead-receiving aperture and a body-receiving opening, and said apertureand opening are normally closed by panel means, means operativelyinterposed between said frame and said panel means to move said panelmeans to an open position as said knife reaches its lower position.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said nose-engaging plateis adjustable transversely relative to said fish.

l IIK t i I.

1. Butchering apparatus for use with tuna-like fish of various sizes,comprising; a frame having a horizontal table, the upper surface of saidtable receiving fish to be butchered; a vertically movable knife carriedby said frame; power-operated means interposed between said frame andsaid knife to urge said knife downwardly towards said table, to butchera fish disposed on its side upon the upper surface of said table and tothereafter raise said knife; a fixed belly-engaging guide on said table;a transversely movable back-engaging plate on said table; alongitudinally movable nose-engaging plate on said table; and linkagemeans operatively interconnecting said plates to cause saidnose-engaging plate to automatically move a predetermined longitudinaldistance when said back-engaging plate is moved a transverse distancecorresponding to the width of a fish to be butchered, whereby said guideand said plates will position different sizes of fish so that said knifewill cut downwardly through said fish along a line extendingapproximately from the center of the eye to the vent of said fish. 2.Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkageeffects a transverse movement of said back-engaging plate to alongitudinal movement of said nose-engaging plate in the ratio ofapproximately 1 to 1 1/2 .
 3. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim1 wherein said belly-engaging guide includes a pusher element and springmeans constantly though gently urging said pusher element towards a fishbeing butchered.
 4. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid table is formed with a head-receiving aperture and a body-receivingopening, and said aperture and opening are normally closed by panelmeans, means operatively interposed between said frame and said panelmeans to move said panel means to an open position as said knife reachesits lower position.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidnose-engaging plate is adjustable transversely relative to said fish. 6.Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said belly-engagingguide includes a pusher element and spring means constantly thoughgently urging said pusher element towards a fish being butchered. 7.Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said table isformed with a head-receiving aperture and a body-receiving opening, andsaid aperture and opening are normally closed by panel means, meansoperatively interposed between said frame and said panel means to movesaid panel means to an open position as said knife reaches its lowerposition.
 8. Butchering apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidnose-engaging plate is adjustable transversely relative to said fish. 9.Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said table is formed with ahead-receiving aperture and a body-receiving opening, and said apertureand opening are normally closed by panel means, means operAtivelyinterposed between said frame and said panel means to move said panelmeans to an open position as said knife reaches its lower position. 10.Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said nose-engaging plate isadjustable transversely relative to said fish.